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It also encourages external investors with local manufacturing bases such as Japan, India and broader China to finance improvements to GMS infrastructureinto three routes to cover Kunming, Yuxi, Simao and Mohan in China; Tachilek in Myanmar; Boten and Luang Namtha in Laos; and Chiang Rai, Bangkok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Songkhla and Narathiwat in Thailand.Thailand,” said Porametee Vimolsiri of the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board. “Existing tracks will be renovated. Only the six heavy-traffic zones, such as Chachoengsao to Laem Chabang or Khon Kaen to Nakhon Ratchasima, where long lines of freight trains from opposite directions share the same track and have to wait, will be supported by an extra track.completed in the near future it will complement the east-west line and further facilitate logistics and development in the subregion.“The last line, called the southern corridor, will begin at Kanchanaburi and stretch east to Sa Kaeo [Thai- land], Poipet, Sri Sophon and Phnom Penh [Cambodia], extend to Ho Chi Minh City and finally end at Vung Tau [Vietnam].”In terms of government participa- tion, however, Mr Porametee sees a need for more Thai support to ease cross-border regulations.GMS cooperation increases cross-border trade value and boosts regional business, and because the corridors help link production chains it also encourages external investors with local manufacturing bases such as Japan, India and broader China to finance improvements to GMS infrastructure.“As for high-speed trains, the Ministry of Transport and Chinese government are discussing a rail link from Bangkok to Nong Khai, which will connect Thailand with Laos and head north to China. Likewise, Japan has recently invested in the east-west railway. The line will originate in Bangkok and connect to Sa Kaeo and Laem Chabang.”“Currently we need to spend long periods for the examination process at border checkpoints, raising expenses by 30%. Member countries have signed a cross-border agreement but the instability of past govern- ments has caused delays, and the new government has now brought the bills forward and will hopefully push them into practice. Another regulation we have just started is vehicle licence exchange quotas. This allows for vehicles to submit their registration numbers to neigh- bouring countries so they can enter the countries easily.”“Both dual-track and high-speed rail links will be developed inWhen the Dawei project, a large industrial estate in Myanmar, is12 Elite+